Chapter Text
A cold morning rise with its rays peeking through Dwight blinds and hitting his sleeping face, but neither that or his ear shrieking sound his alarm clock was making.
“Dwight! Wake up!” a woman with pink hair shouted but he ignored her.
“He isn’t waking up.” another woman in a gray hoodie said well poking the sleeping man's face.
“Let’s pounce on him, I’m sure that wake his ass up!” Charlotte suggested well growing a devilish smile across her face.
“Hold on, Dwight seriously! Get up, you’ll...well we’ll be late to work!”
“...” Dwight refused to get out of bed, so they went with Charlotte idea.
“3, 2, 1, DOGPILE!” they all screamed as they jumped in the air and land on Dwight and his bed, forcing him off his bed and tremble on his floor in a daze. The girls had a little laugh well Dwight was angered by their reckless jumping, but he calmed himself down when his cats came around him and started to purr. He grabbed his glasses and got a better look at their faces but again it only annoyed him when he saw them still laughing, he put his blankets back on his bed and headed to the bathroom and started to shower. It has been 3 years since the attack on the city and 3 years since he saw David, he still remembers that day when he was forced to leave. His world went dark, his mind empty, his heart aching, his feelings lost, he didn’t felt like himself. He wanted to disappear but he chose to remind strong, it hurts him to suppress his feelings but if he falls so will with the rest. Though his mind was set, his body on that day denied every action he did as he sat down on the snow-covered road, not caring if he freeze to death. He put that memory out of his mind and continued with his shower, he dresses with his causal and grabbed a green apron and sat in the living room with the other woman well he wait for Susie.
“First Charlotte and now you Julie, any more ghostly friends you want to bring?” he asked Julie.
“Sure, just let me grab my ghost phone and call all my other ghostly gal pals in hell to haunt some nerd with weird nipples.” Julie mocked.
“MY NIPPLES AREN’T WEIRD!” he said as he look down his shirt to make sure he’s right. Dwight first saw Julie when Susie was shot in the head. She was the reason why Susie was able to survive the shot, he had mixed feelings about it when he found out but Susie is “sane” but Dwight was on his toes if she goes back to her old self. Susie came out with her coat and leggings with a green apron in her hand as well, Dwight got up, grabbed the keys and headed outside. They went to the custom motorcycle with the new side seat installed and turned on the engine, Dwight learned how to ride a motorbike from Bill instead of buying a car. The two drove off to the city tot Claudettes shop but sped up a bit since they weren’t too far from being late, as the reached the shop they parked and rushed inside to get started but they were met with Claudette and her disappointment in her eyes. Even though they weren’t late the fact they rushed here to be on time already raised her anger up a bit but she tossed it aside and let them put on their aprons and started working. As Susie and Nea attended to the plants Dwight and Claudette talked at the counter, their worries of Susie regaining her old self became less to nonexistent the more time pass.
“I was really scared that her old self will come but it looks like we can stop,” Claudette said well watering the plants near the counters.
“Yeah, though her bullet wound became an insecurity for her,” Dwight replied well yawning. Charlotte and Julie hopped on the counter and joined in.
“To think her memories to get lost like that.” Charlotte mention.
“Yea, but I’m happy she’s alive and I’ll sticking with her till the end.”
“You don’t want to pass on?” Claudette asked Julie.
“The day I’ll leave her is the day she’s old and on her last leg ready to go herself, that way we always be together.” Julie replied back, the workday continued and everyone was doing what they had to do, though Dwight can’t help but wonder how Pizzawhat is going despite him quitting years ago. Well Julie went to talk to Susie and Nea, Claudette still questioned his decision he made with Tapp. He told her he doesn’t but her mentioning it made him remember his talk with him not too long after David left. His arms and hands were getting stiff and it was only a matter of time before the weather makes his limbs numb, another car pulled up other than Claudettes and out came Tapp with a saddened but relieved face. He offered an hand to the depressed and frozen boy and helped him up, he asked Dwight if he could come to him to Herman’s lab but he understands if he didn’t want to, he knows Dwight was hurting inside since David was forced to leave. Even tho Dwight eyes told Tapp he was in no mood to be with anyone, even Claudette, but he pushed that aside and agreed to go with him. Of course Claudette followed them without her knowing where they were going, They made it to the lab but what he saw made him tighten his fist and turn red. Susie was in the bed and she was still alive, the bullet he shot at her head didn’t go through and he already got a good idea how when Julie appeared in the lab. For that moment he could only she her but no one else can, even Charlotte. Susie was unconscious and laying on the bed but all Dwight was thinking about was revenge, stabbing her, choking her, and type of harsh torture method will suffice but he held in his rage and listened to what Herman found out.’
“What was it you wanted me to hear or see beside Susie?” He asked.
“Well before you came she was actually conscious before falling back to see but…” Tapp paused, he looked back at Susie and then Dwight but Herman picked up after him.
“I asked her some questions and what i found was shocking.”
“Well doc spit, it out man, your lab isn’t the most fun to be in.” Charlotte told him.
“Susie only remembers up to her return back to this city, her plans for killing you, setting the city ablaze and even driving David out of here and others stuff up till now are all gone.” Herman explained to them, the group eyes widened and looked back at Susie, they couldn’t believe her memories of what she did are gone.
“How can someone forget committing such an atrocity!? The number of lives lost!? HOW!?” Claudette screamed at them but Tapp scratch his head and pulled up a clipboard with papers on them.
“Believe or not we have almost little to no deaths, just a shit ton of injured people, only people confirmed dead were the members of Legion. As for civilians, they’re going to live, though the hospital going to be packed.
“Meaning more work for my fucking ass.” Herman said with no type of enthusiasm in his voice.
“Anyways, once she fully recover i’m sending her of to prison. She may have lost her memories but the things she done won’t go unpunished.” Tapp said but Dwight turned to the Julie who was staring back at him with a worried face. He can tell she wants him to do something about it but his head is clouded by revenge, he wants any type of punishment existing unleashed on Susie and not care if she died from it or not. His mind was dark and his eyes had no life in it, he had no sympathy for her, but he looked at Julie one more time and saw she was crying. But he saw something else, he saw himself. He knows what she feeling and honestly it brought his eyes back to life and his head wasn’t clouded anymore, he breathe in and exhale a deep sign and turned to Tapp.
“(I can’t believe i’m saying this), Tapp, how long Susie will be in prison for?”
“A long, long time. Hell maybe for the rest of her life with the evid...wait, why you asking this?” He asked.
“Is...there a way to lessen it, so she wouldn’t do much.” His question shocked everyone, eyes widened and even Herman’s glasses dropped.
“Slick!? Why you asking that!?”
“H-how much were you thinking Dwight!?” Claudette asked him.
“A year.” he replied.
“Noooooo way, there’s no way in hell i’m covering her ass that much to get that short of a sentence! Dwight, are sympathizing with a killer?” Tapp asked.
“I’m not sympathizing that much, i also want to ask once released can I be her caretaker.”
“You can’t be fucking serious Fairfield! Ok, explain to me why, why I shouldn’t since this crazy bitch to the slammer and have her rot in her cell!?” Tapp asked well snapping his clipboard.
“Because of David.”
“Huh?”
“Legion been a shit stain for David for years, they took Charlotte away and his friends for years as well, but even when he had a chance he didn’t kill. David downed those members at the asylum but he didn’t kill them, he couldn’t ended Susie too, but he didn’t. Even now when he fought them in the warehouse he didn’t aim for kills. David, the guy who life was destroyed by Legion showing sympathy to them. If he can do it then so can I, so Tapp, I know it will be difficult as hell but can you cover up Susie for me.” They all stared at him, Claudette and Charlotte looked at him like he was crazy well Tapp rubbed his eyes aggressively and making them red.
“OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH MY FUCKING GOD! Alright Fairfield, you win. I’ll make it so her sentence will be of a year, but let me ask you this. Let say her memories returned, even the ones where she thirsted for your death, what will you do then?”
“If by chance she regain her old memories...I’ll kill her myself, having go back to her old self will be disastrous, so I’ll kill her if I see any threatening signs of her old self coming back, deal?”
“Deal”
“Thank you Tapp.” He looked at Julie with smiled and thanked Dwight for showing sympathy to Susie, he smiled and nodded back well the rest questioned his decision. Time passed and they all went to their respected home well Dwight and Charlotte went to Bill’s, once they got there he was greeted with a tight hug from him. He knew Dwight wasn’t in the best state of mind since David had to leave him, he sat them down and told them he got some people from the black market who can fix his apartment and even expand it a bit but it’s going to take some time. So he told them to stay with him until they’re finish, after he told him Dwight got up and went to his apartment and grabbed whatever that was still usable. He went to his room to gather any clothes he can but stopped, he heard something. It sounded like animal noises, specifically from a cat. He went to his beaten room and the sound grew louder, he noticed his dresser drawer was slightly open and saw something shuffling between his clothes. He removed some of them and found 3 greyish black kittens without their mother around, but he knew from the appearances of them that their Bell’s kitten. He must’ve mated with a stray and somehow brought their kittens in his room and must have been living here, their mother wasn’t in sight so he assumed the worst and raised them himself. Before his mind continues to play his memories he was snapped back into reality by Claudette who told him that he space out too much, she wasn’t mad that he was, she just doesn’t want him to make a mistake well daydreaming. Noon arrived and the workday was nothing special, regulars come and place orders and the ones that are ready are sent out and delivered by Meg and sometimes himself. After another hour he went off for his break, normally he invite Susie and Nea with him but for today he wanted to go somewhere alone. When asked he told them it’s private and it’ll only ruin their normal lunch break mood, he left out the door and started up the bike then drove off. He drove past some streets and made his way to the eastern outskirts passed the university and to the town over, he drove a bit more and parked the bike in front of a large gate leading to the cemetery. As he strolls down the snow-covered walkway he looked at all the graves around him, though he sees many tombstones he was thankful that it wasn’t from the incident 3 years ago. Few minutes passed and he reached two that were standing next to each other, he sat in front of them despite the snow wetting his pants and read the names, Jeffery Johanson and Sally Smithson.
“Hey guys, been a bit. Sorry for not coming to see y’all, I get busy and tired sometimes. Who knew flourishing could be so tiring, though I do like it better than making pizza and cut paychecks. Speaking of, Bill paid some peeps to rebuild my apartment, he even expand it a bit so it is a tad bigger. It’s...still cramped but I’m still thankful for it, but sooooo much happened. Everyone can see Charlotte, she was a ghost who helped me for a long time, I bet you both would like her especially you Sally. There’s also another ghost with me, her name is Julie but only me and a few others can see her. Also, Bell apparently had kittens, can you believe that? I don’t know when or how they got inside my house since I haven’t slept in my room since I got more intimate with David. Oh yeah, Susie lives with me now but get this. SHE DOESN’T REMEMBERS WHAT SHE DID AFTER SHE CAME TO THE CITY. She lost her memories when I shot her in the head, so after she served her time I invited her to stay with me. Haha it’s weird, she’s like my mom or something but her and Julie is great company to have around. ...though it been pretty lonely without David or... you two. If I could see you two again, just once, I’ll take it in a heartbeat. *deep sigh* ok, I need to get back to work, until next time guys.” As he walked away he started to tear up, it took him a lot to come to their graves for the first time but he’s glad he did. He loved both of them and always will. He made it back to work and made up a lie to cover up why his eyes were red. As his workday continued Pizzawhat’s weren’t too busy itself, there were some customers here and there but overall the store hit its slow period. All four of the kids works in the store now, of course, time passed and the group appearances changed. The girls only grew taller for appearance, for Charlie he got stubble going around his face well Luke grew some chin hair. The boy's height changed as well but Charlie is taller than all of them. They joked around, threw stuff or on their phone due to how slow the store is currently.
“Man it’s sooooooo slloooooowwww!” Charlie expressed.
“Yeah, i wish Dwight was still here. Not the same when i mess with the girls compared to him.” Luke said as he blows a bubble and popping it.
“I AIN’T YOUR PUNCHING BAG THANK YOU VERY MUCH!” Jess shouted as she punches Luke in the arm causing Liz to laugh.
“Speaking of, I miss Dwight working here.”
“Well we have DnD night with him, so it’s not like we’re missing much.” Liz said.
“Yeah but I missed with my brother, at least Ace is somewhat better now.” Charlie mentioned.
“Yeah, who knew having a full paycheck would be nice, but i HIGHLY doubt he did this on his own. Someone is giving him some good influence, 5 bucks it’s that old man.” Luke said with a smirk going across his face.
“Haha, ...still tomorrow is valentines days…”
“And David still isn’t back…”
“It’ll be Dwight’s third Valentines without David, I hope he’ll be ok without him.” Jess said with concern in her voice.
“Hey, this is Dwight! He jumped in a high-speed chase, encountered ghosts and defeated legions loads of time, he’ll get through it. I know he can!” Charlie shouted for his high belief in his older brother.
“Leave it to Char-Char to talk highly of Dwight, he’s right though. Dwight has been through a lot of shit, I doubt a holiday will bring him down.” The group smiled and agreed, Dwight is a lot stronger than before so they have hope he’ll make it through the day. Evening arrived and the night sky came with it, the work day is over and it was time for everyone to go home. Dwight and Susie hopped on the bike and rode back home to prepare for dinner. Once back they took off all their clothes and put on something more casual. Susie wore a black t-shirt with a skull on it along with some grey sweatpants and pink fuzzy slippers. Dwight threw on some sweat pants himself and put on his favorite light blue jacket with no shirt underneath.
“Finally! Today was hell for whatever reason, thank god it’s over!” Susie said as she flops on the couch.
“Yeah, though I didn’t really do much today, have I?”
“Speaking of, have you talked to Herman yet?” Susie asked, Dwight helped Herman with another experimental drug, though the drug did its job the side effect was his color pigments for both is body hair and hair turned brown. It didn't bother him since this is the most harmless thing he encountered.
“Yeah I did, he said it will go back eventually, i don’t mind it being brown.” after their small talk Dwight started cooking dinner as Susie talked to Julie and Charlotte, once dinner was finished he gave Susie her plate and sat alongside her and watched whatever she had on.
“Ohhhh man Dwight, i love it whenever you cook, you’re so much better than i am at it!” She said as she devours her plate like she never ate before in her life.
“Yeah, I...learned from him, a lot from him actually.” He looked down at his food and lost his appetite, the dish he made was on David’s favorite meal. He didn’t even realize he was making it, his body just made whatever came to his mind and now he regretted making it. Susie looked at him and saw he lost his mood for the night despite it being so young, his heart ached as the 14th draws nearer. But worst of all was when he lost touch with David and the others, ever since he left he somehow always send Dwight something to let him know he’s alive and healthy. Normally David sends letters through mail and sometimes recorded videos well Rin send messenger birds that cracks his windows, nearing the end of that year they stopped coming. No letter, no birds, no videos. They completely disappeared and he doesn’t know if they’re even alive, he excused himself and went to his room and not bothering with a shower. He shut his door, turned off the light, sat on his bed and watched the last video David sent to him from before he stopped sending them on his phone.
“Hey Dwight! How are are you? Well actually i don’t know why i even asked that haha. As you see we’re pinned do- *gunfire* pinned down but don’t you worry, i got thi-”
“DAVID! IS THIS REALLY THE TIME FOR THAT!?” Rin screamed.
“IT BEEN A BIT JEEZ, well i’m sorry i have to cut this short but we’re trying to get Mike back from Legion. Hopefully once this shit stops i’ll can see you again… I miss you... a lot, until next time!” The video stopped, the recording was only 30 seconds long but it didn’t stop him from replaying it.
“Hey Dwight! *fast forwards* i miss you... a lot. *rewinds* Hey Dwight! *fast forwards* I miss you... a lot.” He just kept rewinding and fast forwarding just so he can hear those words he wanted to hear, as he kept doing it tears fell down on his phone. He felt pathetic for doing this repeatedly but he couldn’t help it, he hasn’t heard or seen anything and the more time passed the more his heartache and causes pain in his chest. As he curled up in his bed he pulled the blanket over him and tried to sleep, after struggling for so long he eventually went to sleep but it didn’t last long. He woke up sometime in the night and looked at the time, 10:32pm his alarm clock shown. He got up and stretch a bit but his hands decided to open up his phone and call David’s number again but the results were the same again.
“Hey there! If ya trying to reach me i’m sorry but i’m currently busy. Leave a me a message and i’ll get back to you!”
“*Sniffle* w-where ar-are you D-David? I-I miss y-you.” He said well tears stream down his face, he rubbed his eyes to get rid of them and look outside. He needed to clear his mind so he put on a thicker black jacket, grabbed the bike keys and headed outside. As he started up the engine he was met with Julie who had a concerned look on her face.
“Fancy seeing you leaving out well the other two are asleep.”
“I just need some air.” he replied back.
“I kinda figured… I kinda saw what happened in your room, sorry for peeking, I got worried but I saw something I shouldn’t see.” She shied away her face but Dwight gave her a smiled and told her it was fine that she saw him, he was more thankful that she was concerned for him.
“So where you’re heading?”
“The black market, craving something sweet and I wanna see Laurie.” he answered.
“Mind if I tag along? Susie never really step foot in the black market after the bullet shot so i never really got to see it.”
“Sure, hop on!” She hopped on the bike and off they drove to the abandoned subway entrance, the reached the gates and started to descend down the stairs. He started to remember his first time going to the market and told Julie how he wished he could of explore more when he first came to it, he told her all about the things you could find down there and she wished she was still alive to experience it. They made it to the place and as they headed to the Strodes territory they made some stop at some food vendor's and tried some food and brought some for Susie so Julie could taste it. They continued to walk down the walkways and bumped into Bill, Adam and Ace.
“Huh, weird seeing you three together.” Dwight questioned.
“Ha, yeah, you wouldn’t see someone as stunning as me with these two huh?” Ace playful told well giving the group a wink but was met with a fist in his gut by Bill who had no time with his playful nature.
“Ignoring Ace statement, i never got a chance to visit this place. I met Bill who was with Ace in the city and i ask if he could take me. But weird seeing you by yourself Dwight.” Adam said back despite Bill knowing Julie is with him.
“Speaking of, let’s get back to it. I don’t like being out this long.” Bill told well lighting up a cigarette. Ace got up rubbing his stomach and continued walking with Adam but before Bill joined them he turned to Dwight and Julie.
“How are you two doing?”
“Oh you know, dead, ghost, best friends with casper the friendly ghost. The usual.” Julie replied well giving him a smirk and putting her hands behind her hand.
“*Rolls eyes* and you?”
“I’m fine, i’m here to see Laurie for something…” He looked away from Bill, he could already tell what Dwight is here for so he didn’t bother asking. He hugged the distraught boy and told him to go home ASAP when he’s finished so Claudete wouldn’t chew him out, he left to join up with Ace and Adam then continued to the Strodes. After some turns they made it to the Strodes building, Dwight was pretty known in the Strodes so of course he was greeted by many of its members, he headed to the room Laurie was in but the door opened and out came Michael in a jumpsuit with his hair draping over his face.
“Oh! Hey Michael!”
“Dwight...hello, i’m glad...to see you. Have... Rin returned?”
“Sorry, I haven’t gotten anything from none of them for 2 and half years. What about you?”
“Nothing, just...this last letter...from her.” He showed Dwight the letter, it wasn’t written by her but by Mike because the penmanship is different and it wasn’t David’s. He looked at the date of the letter and saw that it was sent 2 days before the video David recorded was sent, he gave it back to Michael and he led Dwight to Laurie who was sitting at her desk and was being drowned in paperwork. She looked up to see him and was relieved she could do something else than work.
“Been awhile, Dwight.”
“Yea it has despite how frequent I come to the market now. How’s work?”
“Piling and annoying. I’ll kill for having a week off of work, that’s what my ass get for taking this position.” she expressed well slamming her head on a pile of papers.
“Oh I definitely know about taking a regrettable position, how’s your men?”
“Tip-top shape, ever since we beat that monster of a woman our morale and numbers grew. With new people joining us we might have to expand in other areas.”
“That’s great, … have you?”
“I’m...sorry Dwight, I couldn’t find anything involving David and the others. We searched high and low, we even tried to look within in areas Legion likes to be at but nothing. To be honest, i’m started to assume the worst and he’s…” She didn’t finish her sentence since she Dwight’s eyes tearing up, she apologize for bringing that up and went back to work well Julie and Dwight said their goodbyes to Michael and went back home. They returned to his home and he flopped on his bed and buried his head in his pillow. Julie sat next to him as she knew his head is spiraling out of control of what Laurie just said.
“Hey Julie...do you t-think?”
“Of course not man, David isn’t a promise breaker. If death was a person he’ll kick its ass! But the real question is do you think he’s dead?”
“OF COURSE I DON’T! Even though...a lot is telling me that he is, i’ll keep believing that he isn’t. He’ll be back, safe and sound!”
“Then there ya answer Dwight, now go to sleep. If you pull that stunt you did this morning again Claudette will literally choke you to death.” Julie left to Susie room and Dwight went back to sleep so he can get ready for work and avoid Claudette’s wraith. As the night continued, somewhere else not too far from the city was a man limping back to a run-down motel room. He opened the door and was joined by two others as they flop on the beds, they were covered in blood well being exhausted and sleepy.
“*pants* it’s finally *pants* over! IT’S FUCKING OVER!” a man with a british accent said with such joy in his voice.”
“I didn’t expect us to take this long, but i’m excited too. Not only did we thin the herd of Legion we can go back to our normal lives again.” the woman of the group said well smiling.
“Yeah, though why we are sleeping in this shitty motel? Can we once sleep at something fancy?”
“Yes, let’s totally go to a fancy hotel, covered in blood. That definitely doesn’t say to call the cops” the woman told him.
“Anyways, I can go back to being a reporter, this Legion hunting thing wasn’t my cup of tea. But let’s be real, you’re the real one who’s excited huh?” The reporter asked.
“Fuck yeah I am! I get to see him again, tomorrow I can actually see him. 3 fucking years but now...now we can be together, always. I can see Dwight again, but uhh...you think this would freak him out?” The man removed his custom prosthetic arm and waved it around in front of the others.
“Dude...Dwight seen a blood stain room, ghost, a girl who can jump from building to building, do you really think that would freak him out?” the woman asked well raising a brow.
“If anything that would be the most normal thing he’ll see.” the silver hair man said.
“Man, 3 years though, I wonder how everyone been. I definitely know i’m in for it for losing contact with him, I can see it now. My heart is pumping just thinking about it.”
“Nervous?” the woman asked well she washes her hair.
“Excited, nervous, anxious, scared, all kinds of things. I just wanna sleep now and wake up and see him!”
“Well I don’t think he’ll find it pleasant to have you smell like an ox when he hugs you.” The armless man looked at his dirty body and smelled himself and gagged. He was the worst smelling person in the room at the moment, so he rushed to the shower, kicked the woman out even though she wasn’t finish and started showering. As he showers, his thought was only on the man he loves but other thoughts invaded his mind, he knows Dwight said he’ll wait but something was telling him he moved on. It felt like a storm cloud was over his head, he wouldn’t be upset if he did but he doesn’t know what he'll do if Dwight isn’t with him. His head went back and forth between being negative and positive as he dries himself and put on a white beater and black boxer briefs and jumped on his bed. The other two took their showers as well and got in their night clothes as well.
“So what story i’m gonna tell him first?”
“The one how you crushed a cruise liner into the shoreline?” the silver hair man suggested.
“Or how you got into Area 51 and escaped? Or the one you were most wanted under your fake name in Utah?” the woman asked well yawning as she gets ready to sleep.
“I don’t know honestly, just thinking about talking to him again is keeping me awake.”
“Well rest up dude, we heading back straight in the morning. Still gonna take us a few hours but if we leave in the morning we be there just before it gets dark.” The man nodded and turned off the lights, the other two already went to sleep because of exhaustion but the rugged man was still awake. His mind was still toggling and his heart pumped vigorously, it’s a 50/50 tomorrow but that was more than enough to make him shakes under the blanket. But why? He told himself it was fine, he said he’ll be ok if he leaves him for someone else but his heart knew the truth. He doesn’t want Dwight to leave him, he wasn’t fine with him being with someone else, no matter what his head told him his heart knew it wasn’t true but that only made him tremble more. He took way longer than he suppose to and anything could of happened, Dwight could be dead or actually with another man. Someone who wasn’t a wanted man, someone who didn’t cause him stress, someone who doesn’t get his family killed and especially someone who didn’t caused an atrocity in a city. But no matter what he thinks he have to wait till tomorrow to find out, but that alone only made it worst. The next cold morning came and love filled the outside air, it’s Valentine's day but it was just another day without David for Dwight. He woke up from his sleep, beating his alarm but smelled the air. Someone is cooking, he got out to see and of course it was Susie.
“You’re cooking? And there’s no smoke this time.”
“Fuck off! I’m not that bad of a cook you know?” she barked back at him.
“Tell that to the fire department from last week.”
“Anyways eat up, I rather not have Claudette scold at us again like yesterday.” He nodded, ate his food, showered and clothes himself with some black slacks and white button up then took him and Susie to work. As they reach the store he looked around the streets to see couples going about their day, gifting each other stuff or being affectionate with one another. He quickly turned away to avoid getting himself hurt, he hated this day, especially since his special someone is nowhere near. He could feel the jealousy in his body grow, he went in the store and gave no one a morning greeting. No one didn’t even need to ask Susie or Charlotte why he’s so upset, they gave him his space and started working. As the store started their day and causing time to pass, the workers of Pizzawhat were well in their day as 4pm already hit and the sky isn’t too far from turning into night. Luke and the others were in the back teasing and helping Ace who decided to be an actual manager. As they help remove items from the truck to the back of the store, they left the front to another employee who was cleaning the counters until a built man with a beard in its beginning stages, his head shaved except the top of his head with a scar on his left eye walked in. He was wearing a long greyish coat with black sweater underneath with some tannish slacks on, as he approach the worker she felt overwhelmed by his size.
“C-can i help you?” the frightened woman asked.
“Oh i’m sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.” the man apologized.
“I-it’s nothing, but are you here to place an order?”
“I’m actually looking for someone and wondering if he’s still here, his name is Dwight Fairfield.”
“Hate to break it to you but he quitted years ago, I heard he works as a flourish now but not sure. I don’t picture him of having a green thumb.” She explained to him.
“(So he finally left this place huh?) Alright, thank you. Oh, one more thing! Luke, Jess, Liz, and Charlie, tell them all I said hey.” he asked as he started to walk through the door.
“W-wait! What’s your name?”
“Don’t worry, they’ll figure it out.” The man left out the door and the woman was left confused but ignored it and went back to cleaning, after 20 mins and gotten no calls and not too far for the store to close, the kids were done with helping Ace and he went to Bill’s well the rest went back to the front to finish up before closing. The woman told them of the man who came in here well they were in the back.
“Wait someone you didn’t know knew us? (Damn, please don’t be a Legion member.)” Luke prayed.
“Yeah, it was weird. He kinda creeped me out with his size and body, he specifically asked for Dwight but i told him he was long gone.” she explained to him, Luke pulled the rest to the back and started to bring up who might this guy be.
“Asked for Dwight and knew us? Definitely Legion!” Luke guessed.
“I-I thought Legion doesn’t roam around here since the Strodes started to patrol the surface?” Charlie asked.
“Let’s ask about appearance, his size couldn’t be all that she saw.” Liz suggested, they nodded and went back to the front.
“Hey, everything else noticeable about this guy?” Liz asked her fellow co-worker.
“He was tall, maybe 6’1? Again he’s built, he had a beard, most of his head was shaved but the top.”
“Even with all that it doesn’t help us.” Jess shrugged.
“Anything else?” Luke asked again.
“Oh! He had a thick british accent, like you can clearly hear what he’s saying but you can definitely tell he wasn’t American.” The group eyes widened, the girls grasp well Charlie choked on the water he was drinking.
“B-BRITISH ACCENT!?”
“IS IT DAVID!?”
“WHERE HE’S GOING!?”
“M-maybe to Dwight’s friend shop, I did told hi- HEY!”
“SORRY, CLOSE UP FOR US” Luke screamed as they all ran out the door without clocking out, causing even more confusion for the woman. Claudette’s shop wasn’t too far from closing itself, Nea and Claudette were in the back taking care of things well Meg was at the register. Susie and Dwight were out on the last delivery and will be back before the store close, Meg looked down at her feet and saw that her shoes were untied, she ducked behind the counter to tie them but as she did, a customer walked in.
“Sorry! We’re closing right now, you can take one of the forms on the counter and take it with you to fill out.”
“Oh my mistake, I was just looking for someone and I might of thought he be here. I’ll take my leave.” The man left and Meg got up from tying her shoe but the man wasn’t in sight so she didn’t get a chance to see him.
“(We get a lot of tourists these days but why i have the biggest case deja vu?) *doors opens* sorry bu- Oh! Michael.”
“Meg...nice to see...you.” He said well giving her a small smile.
“How you doing big guy?” She asked but all he did was smile some more and moved to the side, behind him stands two people. One was a woman with long black shiny hair, she was wearing a small light blue coat with puffy fur around the wrist area, she was wearing white dress with black thermal leggings and top it off with a small fur hat. The man next to her wasn’t dressed as fancy as the woman, he had in a simple long coat with some gloves and a hat, but Meg knew who they were. Rin and Mike.
“No FUCKING WAY! NEA, CLAUDETTE, GET OUT HERE! YOU GUYS HAVE TO SEE THIS!” Meg screamed, the other two came out but couldn’t believe their eyes.
“No way! You guys are back!?” Claudette shouted as she gave Rin a hug, Mike felt left out a bit but Michael gave him a hug but it was more painful than pleasant.
“Man, it’s so nice having you guys back.... wait….WAIT! THE GUY BEFORE! WAS THAT DAV-”
“DWIGHT, DWIGHT, DWIGHT!” the kids shouted his name as they all burst through the door.
“Kids!? What ar-”
“WHERE’S DWIGHT!?” Luke asked with excitement in every inch of his voice, Susie and Dwight reached their destination for the delivery along with Charlotte and Julie. Of course, the 3 did their best to annoy him as usual. Once they delivery was finished they headed back outside to the car but Dwight’s mood didn’t lift up anytime soon, the other did what they could to help him forget about the day but his head blocked out their voices. But before he opened the door he got a video call from Luke, Dwight normally doesn’t like those type of calls but he answered anyways.
“Luke i’m not in th-”
“SHUT UP AND LISTEN TO THIS!” he shouted but him interrupting Dwight just worsen his mood.
“OK, WE WAS HELPING ACE IN THE BACK AND WE LEFT A COWORKER UP FRONT. SHE SAID WAS CLEANING AND TALKED TO SOMEONE WHO KNEW US, OF COURSE, WE THOUGHT LEGION BUT THE DESCRIPTION SHE GAVE HAD TO BE DAVID!” he shouted at Dwight but he didn’t believe him, he know Luke likes to play games with him so it was hard to believe what he said.
“Luke, I don’t time for that shit! Go home and do something else than bother me.” he snapped back at the teen.
“Dammit lis- HEY MICHAEL CAREFUL! YA BIG ASS HANDS WOU-IT JUST CRACKED YOU HUGE JACKASS!” Michael took Lukes phone and tried to talk to Dwight himself.
“Myers?”
“Luke...isn’t lying... look!” He pointed the phone direction at Rin and Mike who was waving at him. His eyes widened, his jaw dropped and covered his mouth with his hand. Rin and Mike were back safe and sound and if they’re here that could only be one thing.
“Dwight?”
“Everything ok Slic- WAIT, WHY ARE YOU RUNNING!?” He didn’t answered, he just ran. He pushed people out his way, he slipped on the icy pavement, his foot got caught in snow piles but it didn’t stop him. He kept going, he wanted to see him with his own eyes. He felt the cold air stinging his face, his cheeks red, hands numbing, cold seaking in despite him wearing winter clothing. He was becoming exhausted as he rushes through the streets and almost getting hit by passing cars, he didn’t even know where he was running to. His body moved on it’s own though he wish he wasn’t at the edge of the city when he started running, the sky turned dark and the street lights and store lights shined brighter than it did in the day but he was lost. His sense of direction disappeared as he tried to figure out where he was and where he was going, he stopped and took a deep breath, he closed his eyes and thought to himself. He opened his eyes and continued running even though he was beyond exhausted. A man sat on a bench in the park looking up to the sky with a worried look in his face, he looked in places he thought he’ll find Dwight but he was nowhere to be found. Even the park, the place their friendship first started, didn’t have him inside. His heartbeat slowed, he didn’t panicked, he accepted it. His mind told him he moved on and his heart ached at the thought but he knew he was too late. He didn’t shed a tear, there was no point of making any, it was his own fault why Dwight left him and for that, he’s lost. The pain in his chest grew but there wasn’t anything to do to quell it, he got up and pulled out a picture out of his pocket. It was a photo of them Claudette took on Christmas, he had only that to keep him going but now it hold no value. He was ready to tear it apart but his hands wouldn’t move, shredding this picture will shred his heart to a point he’ll won’t ever come back from but he was fine with that. As he started to tear the photo he heard footsteps running towards him, stomping on the slightly hard snow, as he turned and looked as he dropped the photo. Standing in front of was Dwight, he was breathing heavy, he was sweaty, exhausted and red all over.
“Dwight...you came!”
“David...DDDAAAAVVVVIIIDDDDD!” he screamed as he ran into David, knocking him down well tears and snot ran down Dwight’s face and the same for David.
“YOU S-SON OF A B-B-BITCH! THE H-HELL WERE YOU!? YOU F-FUCKING DISAPPEARING L-LIKE THAT HURTS!”
“I-I know, i’m s-sorry Dwight, i’m *sniffle* so f-fucking sorry.”
“THEN I BEEN T-TRYING TO C-C-CALL YOU, I W-WAS SCARED DAMMIT! I KEPT P-PLAYING THE V-VIDEO OVER AND OVER AGAIN! I-I-I EVEN HAD L-LAURIE TO KE-KEEP A LOOK OUT F-FOR YOU!”
“I’m so-sorry, I p-put you through s-so fucking m-much.” he struggled to say as drool fell from his mouth.
“T-THEN EVERYONE A-A-ASSUMED THE WORST, EVEN I-I DID, I W-WAS SO S-SCARED THAT Y-YOU ACTUALLY DIED! I HATED T-THINKING O-OF THAT BUT-BUT-BUT! AUAAUUUGHGGHH!” He was at a loss for words, he couldn’t tell if he was upset or happy to see David. David lifted up the crying boy head and kissed him, they closed their eyes as they both been waiting to taste each other lips for the longest time. Once their lips parted David pressed Dwight’s head to his chest.
“I’ve been waiting sooo long to do that again, thank you Dwight, I-I was scared that you didn’t want to wait this long. I kept telling myself I was fine if you did left but...but…”
“You d-didn’t want that to happen, well you don’t have to worry anymore David. I wasn’t planning to, I never did! I… just was so worried about you, i was serious when i said i had the Strodes to look for you!”
“I-I’m sorry, but i’m finally back and i’m here to stay this time!” He put his prosthetic hand on Dwight tear stained face but Dwight jumped due to how cold David’s fake hand were.
“AHHHHH, David, why is your hand so- wait, what!?” Dwight looked and saw a red metallic like prosthetic taking place of his missing forearm.
“Cool right? I got whe-”
“THERE THEY ARE!” They turned their heads and saw the kids running towards them, David got up to give them a hug but he was met with a tackle from each of them.
“DAVID!”
“Hey there Charlie, ho-”
“DAVID!”
“H-hey Luke, i think holding both of yo-”
“DAVID!”
“J-Jess? 3 might be way too-”
“DAVID!!”
“WAIT LIZZ, 4 IS-AAAAHHHHH!” David collapse to the ground due to the combined weight making him lose his balance, soon after Claudette and Rin walked up well Susie, Charlotte and Julie.
“David, you’re back!” Claudette said well wiping away her tears.
“Took ya ass long enough Meathead!” Charlotte told him as she playfully punches him.
“Yeah, sorry about that guys. I didn-”
“WHOOOOOAAAA, DAVID! YOUR ARM!” Charlie pointed.
“Yeah. Here, take a closer look.” He removed his fake forearm and tossed it to Luke.
“Wow, this looks dope! I wond-AAHHHH!” Luke and the rest screamed when it started moving on its own.
“Scary right? I can move it and it doesn’t even need to be attached to me. Took some time to get use to it though.” he explained.
“How!? That type of technology isn’t even in concept yet!? No, let me guess, the black market from somewhere else?” Claudette asked.
“Certainly seems that way, I hav-”
“SUSIE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!?” David screamed as he quickly got up and readied himself.
“H-how do you know my name!?”
“HOW DO I KNOW IT!? YOU WAS-errrrrrrr” He paused when he saw Claudette and Dwight making signs behind, telling him to make up a lie.
“I was what?”
“Errr you were on the news...about some charity work!” he told.
“Oh! I didn’t know news from my schools charity case spread out that fast, sorry for questioning you then.” They all let out a little sigh and went back to talking, David put back his forearm even though the kids wanted to look at it some more. He also told them that it’s only a prototype and the guy who made it is coming to the city soon to do maintenance so he doesn’t have to worry when it goes haywire.
“Lookie here, Dwight’s knight in shining armor.” Julie said well poking David’s chest.
“Pfffft, if anything Dwight’s more of my knight in shining armor” he winked at Julie.
“Ugh! I didn’t think they would THAT cringy.” Susie said well holding her nose.
“* chuckles* OOOOK! I had just enough with the cold, i’m ready to head inside.” David said as he wipe the snow of his pants.
“We better get back to the shop since your bike is there. Susie, Charlotte let’s g- Charlotte!?” They all looked at her, a weird yellowish white light was around her. She put up her arm in front of her face and she can see through it, her body started to become transparent.
“Damn, guess my job is done.” She said with an accepting voice well giving them a smile.
“What’s happening to her!?” Jess asked.
“Yeah! David just came back, everything should go back to normal right!?” Liz questioned.
“No, I think it’s because of that reason why she’s disappearing.” Rin explained.
“*Gasp* O-oh, Rin’s right.” Charlie said as he began to tear up.
“She was only like that cause David was in pain, but everything is back to normal...meaning she isn’t needed anymore…” Claudette explained to everyone.
“THAT’S BULLSHIT! Come on Charlotte, you’re still needed here.” David shouted at her.
“Yeah! W-we wouldn’t be here without you! I would of died if you never came! You can’t go...I-it could be us!” Dwight shouted at her.
“Oh Slick, Meathead, if that was really true I wouldn’t be fading right now. Would I?” She asked.
“No...YOU CA-”
“Stop guys! Don’t make this any harder, I’ll...definitely miss you all, couldn’t asked for better friends and couldn’t ask for someone better to watch David.” Dwight started to cry and so did the rest.
“Charlotte, who will help me toy with Dwight?” Luke asked well holding his arms over his eyes.
“You got Jules! She way better than me at messing up Dwight’s day.” She said, the light around her grew brighter and she grew more transparents. Her feet started to disappear and turned into little specs that floated you to the sky, soon other body parts started to fade as well. She walked up to Dwight and David and gave them a hug, but she started to cry. She had fun being there for those two, seeing their ups and downs, saving them, and even helping them fix their trust for others when it was thin.The two squeezed her tight as they could, if they could keep her they would take it in a heartbeat but they had to let her go, she backed away and smiled at them again.
“Oh! Before i go, this little guy wanna say hey to everyone too.” She said as she point down to her said, a small boy who skin was slightly darker than hers but hair color the same. He was covered in overalls with a small white shirt under it, he was just as transparent as her and greeted everyone smile. It was Thomas.
“D-David?” The boy asked.
“Thomas! Come here little guy!” The boy ran up to him and hugged David as he picks Thomas transparent body.
“I missed you soooooooo much! Did you missed me!? Did you!? Did you!?” the boy asked excitingly.
“You bet i missed you little guy, you were always on my mind.”
“Yaaaaaay, you missed me! That makes me soooooo happy! But uhhhh, who are these people?” the boy asked as he hops down and ran to them.
“Claudette!”
“Luke.”
“Charlie.”
“Jessica but you could call me Jess.”
“Lizz.”
“Rin, pleasure to meet you.”
“Susie!”
“Julie.”
“Wooooooow, you all look so cool! Huh?” The boy turned to Dwight and ran to him.
“You feel...special. What’s your name mister?”
“Dwight, Dwight Fairfield.”
“Fairfield...that’s...AN AWESOME NAME!” the boy shouted as he jumps and spins in the air, pumping his fist.
“I’m Thomas, Thomas Mclyn, pleased to meet you all! Dwight, how did you met David?” he asked.
“Well… it’s a bit…”
“They met 3 years ago during the summer, a lot happened to them and now they’re dating.” Charlotte explained to Thomas.
“Woooowie, you guys look so better in a relationship than my sister.” he said without a care in each word.
“HEY YOU LITTLE SHIT! UGGHHH!”
“Hehe, Charlotte! I wanna play with my new friends, I can !?” Thomas asked.
“Maybe another time, but we need to go.” she told him.
“AWWWWW, Mr. Dwight, we’ll play soon won’t we?”
“Of course, when the time comes i’ll play with you as long as you like.” He answered back with a smile.
“And David?”
“Hell yeah! I can’t wait for the day!”
“YYYAAAAAYY! It’s a promise! Ok, time for me to go, bye-bye everyone!” He ran next to Charlotte and held her hand, their bodies were turning into little specs light and only showing their faces. They gave her a last smile and waved goodbye to her, she smiled and cried as the last remaining bits of her face disappeared into the sky. As specs ascends up into the sky, a huge luminous light flooded the night sky but only those who was connected to her could see it. Nea and Meg looked to the sky as they felt like someone important left, Bill and Ace had the same feeling and walked outside and they saw the light piercing the night. They mutter her name and cliched their hand on their chest and gave their goodbyes, Adam got the feeling as well and looked out his classroom window and saw the light. He mutter her name and said his goodbyes and watch the lights continue upwards, Feng couldn’t see the lights since she was nowhere near the city but she got the feeling like the rest from her dorm room. She looked up to the sky as well and mutter her name and said her goodbyes. The lights that shined better than the city itself faded, Charlotte and Thomas are gone, they will be missed but noy forgotten.
“Beauty disguised as a beast...no, A light that helped others shine. A bright light.” Susie said as she wipe her tears away.
“Yeah, she was the real light.” Dwight said, The group started moving out of the park but Susie and Julie excused themselves and said they were going to Claudette place to work on something. The two nodded well Claudette whispered what she meant by “work”.
“They haven’t seen each other for 3 years, let them have their time together. Plus I don’t doubt they gonna fuck and Bill told me how loud they are, I ain’t trying to hear that shit!” she whispered back. She nodded in agreed and nabbed both Rin and Julie, the kids went back to the store to finish closing up, leaving the two to go home and relax themselves. They walked to Claudette’s shop and turned on the bike and started driving home, David was impressed that Dwight learned how to ride it since he was scared of motorcycle. They drove back to the complex and saw Bill sitting out front, he ran up and gave David a hugged but then squeezed David’s real hand hard, causing pain for him and turning Bill red. He threatened David that he’ll kill him if he ever take forever to return again. After his threat they went into Dwight’s rebuilt apartment, he was instantly greeted by Bucky who was a fully grown dog now and the 3 new cats Dwight owns. He told him that they were Bell’s children and he wasn’t surprised considering the resemblance, after that being said, he lifted Dwight and thrown themselves on the couch. Dwight was on top of him well David was under, David delivered a barrage of kisses on Dwight’s face which made him laugh and turn red. The two were always thinking about each other ever since they were separated, they been waiting for this day and it finally came. Now there isn’t nothing in their way that will remove them from each other, even death.
“Ok, ok, David! How many more you're going to give me?” he asked laughing his heart out.
“Forever and ever and ever! And you can’t make me either!” he shouted as he gave more kisses to Dwight’s already kiss struck face.
“Been meaning to ask, you dyed your hair?”
“I didn’t, Herman made me test something and the side effects was both my body hair and hair turning brown.”
“No kidding, even your beard is a different color!” He said well pinching Dwight’s cheek a bit, he leaned down on David chest and squeezed him.
“I was really worried about you David.”
“I know and i’m sorry for not keeping in contact with you. One day, they planned to attack you because of how frequent we kept in touch. I hated the idea of it but if we continued then...I…”
“Oh...i should of guessed it was something like that, anyways finding a way to protect me huh?”
“May not good at it like Charlotte but i do my best to do it! Funny, you and Charlotte became good friends despite being opposites.”
“Nah, if anything? We’re the same in some sense.”
“Like wha-OWWWW!” Dwight bit David to show how related him and Charlotte were.
“Like that! How was the bite?” He asked well winking but all that did was David pick up Dwight and carry him in his arms and headed to his him.
“Oh, i’m going to show you what real biting is in a second.” he whispered in Dwight’s ear, making him blush well David closes the door. Dwight and David, two men who world’s wouldn’t possibly meet under no circumstances, connected. A bond that started rough but became something truly blissful for the both of them. They have each other, forever, and it’s just how they wanted it to be.